Our Story

Before the craft beer craze, there was Rohrbach.

Founded in 1991 by John and Patty Urlaub, Rohrbach Brewing Co. is the first craft brewery in Rochester, NY. The brewing company takes its name from Rohrbach, Germany, a small town that inspired its founder to bring craft beer to Rochester. The company first originated in the German House on Gregory Street, then grew into the two restaurant locations existing today–the brewery and beer hall in downtown Rochester on Railroad St. and the Buffalo Road Brewpub Restaurant in Gates.

Though the company has grown over the past 25 years, Rohrbachs has stayed true to its roots. From our old days of growler fills to today’s consistent can releases, it’s been a wild ride from the beginning to the recent craft beer boom. You can find Rohrbach beer in stores, restaurants, bars and sports arenas all over Rochester, Buffalo, Syracuse, and their surrounding Upstate NY areas.

original sign on brick building for Rohrbach Brewing Company's first location on Gregory Street

Two overlapping newspapers on a wooden surface, one black and white and the other brown, with text and images visible: first headline news of Rohrbach's opening

The original Rohrbach location on Gregory Street in the South Wedge neighborhood.

A wooden building with a snow-covered roof, signs indicating a brewery and restaurant, and a snowy ground in front, with the handwritten note 'BUFFALO ROAD 1991' at the bottom.

Three men standing indoors near large brewery tanks, with the man in the middle wearing glasses and a grey blazer.

A person in a red and white jacket standing near a flatbed truck carrying large brewery tanks headed for the Buffalo Rd. microbrewery

More than Rochester's oldest brewery. We are a family-owned small business dedicated to brewing timeless craft beers & improving the community we live in.

As the first craft brewery in Rochester, NY, Rohrbach Brewing Company was originally located in Rochester’s Historic German House shown here alongside some of the few photos from back in the day. Today, in addition to in stores and bars, you can enjoy craft beers and wood-fired pizza at our Rochester brewery on Railroad St. in the Public Market, or enjoy brews and comfort food at our Buffalo Road Brewpub in Gates.

A black and white photograph of a brick building with signs for Bambleon Bros. Co., CASH, DOORS, and MILLWORK, located at 97 Railroad Street. The building has multiple large windows and a small staircase leading to a door on the left side.

Empty room under renovation with large windows, brick walls, wooden ceiling, and construction tools.

Front view of a red brick building with large windows and a sign that reads "ROHRBACH BREWING CO." at the Railroad St. brewery location

Rohrbach Today

Rohrbach Brewing Co. is now owned by brothers Joel & Nathan Will. A brewer and leader at Rohrbach for over a decade, Joel Will carries on the Rohrbach legacy with a deep understanding and fresh perspective.

The trends of craft beer come and go, but we’ll always be here for our community. We’ve got your beer.

Local Impact

Rohrbachs donates roughly 15% of its profits annually. We have a strong relationship with local organizations including Holiday Outreach, Ronald McDonald House, Friends of the Market, and many others. We host annual fundraisers throughout the year, and a large portion of Brewer’s Fest profits are dedicated to Holiday Outreach.

We believe that small actions every day make a big impact. Outside of charitable work, we make choices in our business every day that aim to support our community. We source locally whenever possible–many of our food items are locally produced from partners including Amazing Grains, Lively Run cheese, Pittsford Farms Dairy, The Pierogi Guy, and our favorite neighbor, the Rochester Public Market.

We collaborate with local businesses for our beers as well, whether it's locally sourcing hops or partnering with businesses like Fuego Coffee Roasters and Kettle Ridge Farm for local flavors. Spent grain from the brewery is regularly donated to local farmers.

Person holding a teal mesh bag filled with green produce, standing next to a black dog with a colorful collar and a person in gray pants, outdoors on a rocky surface.

Sustainability

Part of our dedication to our community is to remain as sustainable as possible. Many decisions are made with this in mind–one of the biggest being the shift from growlers to cans. Aluminum cans have a far smaller carbon footprint and are easier to recycle. Rohrbachs even grows its own small batch of hops behind the brewpub.

A tabby and white cat lying in a wooden box labeled 'ROHRBACH Brewing Company,' partially hiding its face and looking at the camera.